Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir
Below are several examples of the times EAA Farmers supported the EAA Reservoir:
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) farm families are pleased that the EAA reservoir will be achieved in a way that will accomplish restoration goals while also protecting homegrown food supply.
Source: EAA Farmers Statement, October 15, 2018
Senate Bill 10 has been greatly improved, takes essentially no privately owned farmland, and even removes the threat of eminent domain. The House deserves credit for quickly passing legislation that can provide some protection for our water resources while also protecting our farming communities and vital food production.
Source: U.S. Sugar statement, May 17, 2017 following the passage of Senate Bill 10
U.S. Sugar will continue to support the EAA Reservoir project, the Florida Legislature, the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they move forward to build and operate the projects that will store, clean and convey more water south of Lake Okeechobee to reduce discharges, protect our coastal estuaries and the Florida Everglades
Source: U.S. Sugar Press Release, November 29, 2019
Additionally, in 2019, Florida Crystals announced the termination of a lease it had on the planned EAA reservoir site, helping to expedite the project so the SFWMD could begin construction of the Stormwater Treatment Area.
When we saw the governor’s expedited schedule, we knew our support would be integral to the success of the EAA reservoir project’s new timeline,” Gaston Cantens, vice president of corporate relations for Florida Crystals, said in a statement. “We then contacted the state with a solution, offering to waive the state’s contractual obligations to a three--year termination notice in order to facilitate immediate access to the land needed to move the project forward early. Agriculture has been an active partner in Everglades restoration for more than 25 years, and we are proud to continue our successful collaboration with today’s action.
Source: CBS 12, October 22, 2019
Sugarcane and vegetable farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area have given up more than 120,000 acres of productive farmland for restoration projects, including the land for the EAA Reservoir Project (currently under construction on property consisting of former Talisman Sugar property and other swapped farmland parcels).